Path of Life, Level Nine

"Martial Soul: Life Blue Silver Grass (E-rank)"

"Please select a cultivation direction: 1. Life, 2. Poison, 3. Sharpness, 4. Toughness, 5. Deep Tilling."

Wang Xian stared at the five directions that appeared, a look of realization dawning in his eyes.

It seems that all the traits I fused into my Martial Soul can serve as growth directions for the Blue Silver Grass.

After reviewing the five options, Wang Xian quickly made his decision; he chose to focus on Life as his cultivation direction.

This was not only because life was the essence of the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, but also because life was the most powerful and comprehensive of all the available paths.

The other directions, whether it was Poison, Sharpness, or Toughness, were all singular paths that could not compare to the well-rounded nature of Life.

"Select Life direction, begin cultivation."

"Cultivation direction selection complete."

"Martial Soul Cultivation Chamber: Blue Silver Grass (Cultivating)."

"Martial Soul Quality: E~D (1%), estimated completion in three days."

"Martial Soul Cultivation Direction: Life."

It still takes three days? So, only the Weapon Form cultivation requires a longer duration, while other cultivations proceed as usual?

Wang Xian looked at the three-day cultivation time and couldn't help but speculate.

However, this was fine; with only three days required, he could improve his Martial Soul and soul power even faster.

In the past five months, his soul power had broken through to around level 1, which was a normal cultivation speed for someone with level 5 Innate Soul Power.

After the Martial Soul cultivation, his soul power would inevitably increase again; the last time, it had directly boosted his soul power by two levels.

If it could boost his soul power by another two levels this time, he wouldn't be far from level 10.

Of course, he couldn't rely entirely on Martial Soul upgrades for his soul power; he still needed to continue his daily cultivation during this period.

Three days passed quickly. To avoid causing too much of a commotion after the Martial Soul cultivation, Wang Xian left his dormitory and headed to the back mountain once again.

Not long after arriving at the back mountain, the system's notification sound rang in his mind.

"Martial Soul cultivation complete."

A translucent light screen automatically unfolded before his eyes, and a new panel emerged.

"Life Blue Silver Grass (E-rank) → Life Blue Silver Grass+ (D-rank)."

"Martial Soul Cultivation System."

"Host: Wang Xian."

"Age: Six years old."

"Soul Power: 9."

"Martial Soul Quality: D-rank (Intermediate Martial Soul)."

"Martial Soul Cultivation Points: 70."

"Martial Soul Cultivation Chamber: Place the Martial Soul inside and consume Cultivation Points to cultivate it. (Cultivation attempts: 0; requires 10,000 Cultivation Points for the next cultivation.)"

Wang Xian scanned the panel, and when his eyes landed on the soul power column, his heart skipped a beat.

Level 9.

The last cultivation had boosted his soul power by two levels, but this time it had actually given him three.

Jumping from level 6 to level 9 meant he was only one step away from level 10.

As expected, the next cultivation requires 10,000 points. Wang Xian looked at the number, which had increased tenfold, his expression remaining relatively calm.

However, he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed, as he certainly wouldn't be able to gather enough Cultivation Points in the short term.

But now was not the time to think about that; he was more concerned with the changes to the Martial Soul itself.

Wang Xian spread his right hand and channeled his soul power.

Ink-green light surged from his palm, and the Blue Silver Grass slowly emerged.

The changes this time were even more pronounced than before.

The blades of grass were nearly twice as thick as before; the originally slender leaves had become broad and sturdy, and he could feel a heavy weight when holding them in his hand.

The color had shifted from ink-green to a deeper, grayish-green, resembling ancient wood soaked in rainwater deep within a mountain forest, exuding a heavy aura of life.

The silver veins were still present, but they were no longer scattered across the surface of the leaves as they had been before.

Instead, they had converged into clear main veins, extending from the base of the leaf to the tip, like pipes transporting nutrients.

Where the veins intersected, the dark golden luster was brighter than before, flickering occasionally as if something were flowing within them.

The serrations on the edges of the leaves had become finer and denser, but they no longer clawed outward as they had before; instead, they curled slightly inward, appearing much more restrained.

Wang Xian touched them lightly with his finger; his skin didn't break, but he could feel the serrations vibrating slightly beneath his fingertip, as if they were alive.

The most obvious change was the film of light on the surface of the leaves.

Previously, it had been just a thin sheen of luster, but now it had become a tangible, protective membrane.

It felt slippery to the touch, with a hint of warmth that didn't feel like a plant, but rather like the skin of some living creature.

Wang Xian pinched a leaf and gave it a hard tug.

The blade of grass went taut and didn't budge an inch, snapping right back into place the moment he let go.

With a thought, several strands of Blue Silver Grass extended from his palm, wrapping around a nearby sapling as thick as a bowl.

He didn't rush to tighten them, merely winding them loosely twice before channeling his soul power.

The Blue Silver Grass began to tighten slowly; unlike before, the process was eerily silent.

There was no creaking sound, only the faint glow of the light film on the surface of the grass blades.

The sapling's trunk began to cave in—not with the indentations of being strangled, but as if something had drained the moisture from within, causing it to slowly wither.

The bark wrinkled and turned brittle at a speed visible to the naked eye; within a few breaths, the section wrapped by the grass had sunken in by nearly a finger's depth.

Wang Xian released the Blue Silver Grass and reached out to touch the mark.

The withered bark crumbled at the slightest touch, revealing the grayish-white wood beneath, which felt dry and hard, like deadwood that had been scorched by the sun for months.

Looking at the drastic change in the tree, a look of surprise appeared on Wang Xian's face; this was completely different from its previous state.

Before, he had utilized the Sharpness of the Blue Silver Grass to inflict continuous damage on the trees.

"But now, it seems to be draining the tree's moisture and life force."

"Draining moisture and life force?" Wang Xian's expression was complicated.

There was no doubt that this ability was incredibly powerful, but if discovered, it would be all too easy to be branded a Fallen Soul Master.

Wang Xian retracted the Blue Silver Grass into his palm, then released it again, focusing his mind to sense his martial soul.

He channeled his soul power while simultaneously using his intent to control his martial soul.

The next second, the sharp serrations that had been retracted instantly flared open, becoming ferocious and jagged once more.

Under Wang Xian's control, the Blue Silver Grass shot out, binding a large tree ahead. The moment it made contact, the sharp serrations embedded directly into the trunk.

Then, under the effect of Deep Tilling, it began to slice through the trunk at high speed. Just as the tree was about to fall, Wang Xian immediately retracted the Blue Silver Grass.

Looking at the Blue Silver Grass in his hand, Wang Xian's eyes lit up.

So it has two forms. I should use the form that drains life force and moisture sparingly in front of others, Wang Xian thought to himself.

After sensing his soul power, he clenched his fist, feeling the more abundant energy within his body, and the corners of his mouth slowly curled upward.

He was at level nine, just one step away from level ten.